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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion The Wisdom
of God is Folly to the World |
A daily |
Frontline Devotion for Monday, March 9, 2009 by Fritz Foltz
I Corinthians 1: 18-25. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Christianity holds up the Cross as our central symbol. We make sure a large one is prominent in our churches, follow them in our processions, wear them around our necks, place them on our walls, mark them on our foreheads when we baptize, and sign them I the air when we bless.
The message of the cross is that we are willing to give ourselves for others, just as Jesus gave himself for us. That is a powerful proclamation, but hardly a popular one. So we sometimes scratch our heads when the Cross is used casually as decoration or jewelry.
Of course, many who understand what the message means shake their heads at us, thinking we are fools. Popular wisdom is to look out for myself and pursue what makes me happy. It asks a religion for some sign, such as a miracle, that proves faith can produce what I want or for some wisdom, such as well- defined techniques, that leads to the success that I want. Popular wisdom often accuses cross- followers of being passive and inviting abuse. In fact, a number of the new churches have removed crosses, because they think they speak the wrong message for modern people. These new churches preach self-esteem and love of self.
The message of the cross is certainly nothing about lack of self- esteem. If you are going to stand up for truth even in the face of death, if you are going to work for the good of others as well as self, you are never going to invite abuse for anyone. If you are to proclaim values that are more important than personal survival, you had better have courage. If you are willing to give self for the common good, you are not going to be passive.
As Paul maintains, following the cross is only foolish from some perspectives. From others the world’s “me first” fails the test. Certainly our present financial crisis shows what personal ambition alone can do to our society. Certainly our failure to recognize the need of sacrifice for the common good has led to a breakdown that harms all, including me. Certainly when we look back on the past decades we see that what passed as wisdom was gibberish and sometimes just con games built on the creed “me first”.
The wisdom of the cross is sobering, challenging, and powerful. It reminds us of both the good and the evil, the beautiful and the ugly in this world. For some of us, it seems the most realistic program of them all.
Let us pray: Come, Father, and clear our minds. Bring us into your family that we might share our talents and build a better world for all. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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